Fifth Week: Friday Evening

Again, O Lord of all, we desire to bow in thy presence. May we approach Thee with all the encouragements that can be derived from thy character, as the God of love. We are not left to feel after Thee in the darkness of nature; or to worship Thee as the unknown God. We cannot find Thee out unto perfection; but we know that Thou a -t jjood and ready to forg’ive, and plenteous in I’Tcrcy unto all them that call upon Thee.

For Tnou hast given us thy word, which Thou iv it magnified above all thy name: and Thou hast favoured us with the gospel, so that on us who were sitting in darkness, and the shadow of death, has risen a great light, the light of life.

But we acknowledge, how ungratefully we have received the benefit, and how little we have improved Our privileges, to the purposes for which they have been given. We have made light of these things, though c;ngels desire to look into them; we tiave neglected the great salvation: we have turned away from Flim that speaketh from heaven. Atid all that Thou hast kindly employed, to enforce the messages of thy word, we have disregarded: for we have contemned the examples of the good, the admonitions of friendship, the reproaches of conscience, the rebukes of thy providence, and the strivings of thy Holy Spirit, and well do we deserve, that the kingdom of God should be taken away from us. O, let us not confess our sins without feeling and lamenting them; but with a broken heart and contrite spirit, with self-abhorence, self-condemnation, and self-despair

And under a deep impression of our guilt, may w seek, alone, from Him who is the hope and the consolation ot Israel. Viewing Him as dying for the ungodly, may we believe in His name. May we know that He bore our sins in His body on {he tree, and that by His stripes we are healed. And may we find in Him, not only righteousness but strength May He impart to us, not only forgiveness of sins, but repentance unto life. Ma) we never separate in our regards what He has joined together in the Scriptures; or suppose tha we are justified by His blood, unless we are sanctified by His Spirit.

We believe we can never be happy in sin,, and we do not desire it: Lord, deliver us from it, and lead us in the way everlasting. Make us holy like thyself, that we may be made happy in thyself. We are naturally disqualified for all communion with a holy God; work in us to will and to do of thy good pleasure; produce in us those principles and dispositions, which will attach us to thyself as our exceeding joy; and enable us to say, whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.

Under all our ignorance, weakness, fears, and depressions, may thy Spirit help our infirmities, with supplies of wisdom, strength, and comfort.

May we faithfully study our character, and be always willing to come to the light, that if evil our deeds may be proved. May we peculiarly observe ourselves, under the operation of those events which are designed to tj y us; that we may judge of the reality and degree of our grace. May we often review life, and see how we have at any time been ensnared, or overcome, that we may in future, become more wise and circumspect. And while we watch, may we also pray, lest we enter into temptation May we never trust in our own hearts, or depend upon any past experience, or present resolution; but be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Thus far Thou hast helped us. Hitherto our enemies have not triumphed over us. And though we have seen many decline from their ‘)rofession,we hope if Thou wert to ask, Will ye also go away.^ We should be able to say.

•vith more conviction and affection than ever, Lord .0 whom should we go hut unto Thee, Thou hast the words of eternal life. Thou hast been with us in trouble; and many a shadow of death hast Thou turned into the morning-. We can now discern thy wisdom and kindness, in dispensations, which once perplexed and dismayed us: and what »ve know not now, we shall know hereafter.

Never leave us nor forsake us, but suppoi-t and lead us through all these dark and sorrowful regions: and enable us with confidence to hail the hour, when our sun shall no more go down, nor our moon withdraw herself; for God shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.

We implore it through the intercession of Him who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.